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Origin and history

The Church of Saint-Mammès of Dannemois, dedicated to the martyr Mammès of Caesarea, is a Catholic parish building located in the Essonne department in Île-de-France. Placed in the centre of the village on the left bank of the river Is School, it is next to the castle of the Louvetière, former Templar possession. Its architecture reflects a phased construction: the Romanesque nave of the 11th century, the openwork bell tower of the 12th century, and the Gothic choir of the 14th century, complemented by subsequent developments such as a 15th century side gate.

The building of the church began in the 11th century with a massive nave of Romanesque style, covered with a cradle vault. The bell tower, perched with geminated bays, was added in the 12th century, followed by the south side to the 13th and the Gothic bedside to the 14th. In the 15th century, sandstone stops and a second portal under awning were added to strengthen the structure. Close to a Templar Commandery, two tombs remain, the building was partially destroyed on 1 January 1900 by the collapse of the choir, reducing it to ruins.

Partially classified as historical monuments on 26 September 1926 (nave and bell tower), the church is built of sandstone of Fontainebleau, a local material also used for its carved baptismal fonts. Its history is marked by successive transformations, including the addition of a characteristic awning protecting the side portal. Today, it bears witness to both the Romanesque, Gothic and Templar heritage in the region, while bearing the stigma of its collapse at the beginning of the twentieth century.

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